Huffing, puffing over smoking ban will pass

Thursday

Jul 26, 2007 at 12:01 AMJul 26, 2007 at 2:33 PM

Peoria Editorial

In what may end up being this legislative session’s most significant and lasting achievement, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed the Smoke-Free Illinois Act into law Monday, banning tobacco use indoors in most buildings, including bars and restaurants. As of Jan. 1, 2008, smokers can leave their butts at the door in the Land o’ Lincoln.

This editorial page had some reservations about the intrusion of government into private places regarding the use of a legal product. Still, it’s hard to shed too many tears over restricting the use of a product that undeniably causes cancer and other ailments, not only to the users themselves but to those who hang around them.

In some ways it’s a surprise this issue wasn’t more controversial. For one thing it was overshadowed by some other huge problems confronting state government, not the least of which were soaring electricity rates. But more than that, it shows a decided shift in public opinion toward tobacco use in the four-plus decades since the U.S. surgeon general first made Americans widely aware of the health risks.

Smokers were vocal in their opposition, of course, but in fact most Illinoisans don’t light up. In a democracy, majorities rule. Even in a smokestack town like Peoria, voters indicated they favored a statewide prohibition by a 2-to-1 margin when asked by referendum last spring.

Those majorities should make sure to patronize those establishments they once shunned because of their smoking policies if they want to keep the ban in place, employees working and employers contributing to the local economy, as one of the chief complaints about this law was that it would hurt business.

The existence of this law in itself won’t be enough to curb smoking indoors where people congregate. There will have to be enforcement, as it’s inevitable that some will test it.

It’s too bad that the marketplace couldn’t have decided this issue without the strong arm of government forcing matters. That said, we think it likely that folks will someday look back on this ban and wonder why it took so long.